Calvin g



(No Model.)

0. G. UDELL.

STEP LAD-DER.

N0. 25 1,518 Papenged Mar. 7,1882.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN Gr. UDELI), OF NdRTH INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,518, dated March 7, 1882.

' Application filed August 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, CALVIN G. UDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Indianapolisfin the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in step-ladders, in which, first, the braces of the ladder are securely fastened to the legs by clamping-bands, which, while holding the ends of the braces firmly, prevent the ends of said braces from splitting; second, the rear leg of the ladder is supported about midway of its height by a sliding brace-bracket; and, third, the top step is firmly clamped in the hingebracket, preventing it from getting loose or splitting; and the object of my invention is to furnish a stronger and more durable stepladder than heretofore. This object I accomplish by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of astepladder embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a step-ladder, partially in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the hinge plates or brackets. Fig. 4. is a modified form of said hinge-bracket. Fig. 5 is a modified form of one end of the hinge-bracket. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side and end view of the bracebands. Fig. 7 is a side and end view of the cross-bar staple band or clamps. Fig. Sis a view of a band with drawing-spurs, used to clamp the braces and legs together at thesides,

and is made fast by a screw which passes through it into the braces and legs. Fig. 9 represents enlarged detail views of the sliding brace. Fig. 10 represents a side view of the clamp-band for holding the cross-braces and upright bar for the slide-brace, and Fig. 11 represents aside and end view of the pivot socket for the upper end of the upright bar of the slide-brace to operate in.

Similar letters in the various views refer to like parts.

I represents the step-ladder, and A the rear legs. The upper ends of the rear legs, AA, are provided with the ordinary hinges F, the pivot portion of which operates in the holes X of the hinge plates or brackets P. The upper step,

G, of the ladder is placed over the hinge plates or brackets P P, and the projecting prongs a a are driven into the edges of the step. The pin f on the harp of the section P, also the pin f on the bar p, are then inserted in the holesf and f of the section P. Thus the two parts P P are firmly united, with the step Gr, clamped fast. The sections P P are then made fast to the sides of the stiles of the ladder Iby screws, as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 a modified form of the hinge plate or bracket is shown cast in one piece, instead of two, as in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 the part P has the bar 10 and hinge part p cast on it. The upper bar,p, has a pin, f, at its end, to engage in its holef in the part P and thus hold the upper part of the bracket rigid. Each end of the bracket is provided with spurs a a. to drive into the front and rear edges of the top step, G, and hold it fast, the same as shown in Fig. 2. In securing it to the step the pinfis removed fromits holef, and the parts P and p spring apart far enough to permit the step G to be inserted between the spurs a a, which are then driven home into the edges of the step until the pinf enters the the holef, where the plate or bracket is made fast to the step-ladder, as before described.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the ends of the hinge-plate. Instead of having a spur, it has a lug, p, with a hole, r, in which a nail or screw may be inserted and driven into the edges of the top step,jGr'. The upper and lower ends of the braces B B are secured to the legs A A by the bands I) b b b, which clasp the ends of the braces and legs, and are made fast by screws passing through the hole 12 in one side of the band into the braces and legs, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. The draw-clamp, Fig. 8,

may be used and the draw-spurs 20 forced into the sides of the legs, drawing them and the braces snugly together, where they are made fast by a screw passing through the hole in the part w.

The cross-bar G has its ends secured to the legs A A by the staple-clamps d, which have their ends driven into the legs above and below the brace, and the staple is then secured by a screw or nail passing through it and the brace into the legs, as shown.

One end of the sliding brace J is pivoted to the step M at K. The other end is pivoted at L to the slide H. Said slide H operates on the vertical bar D, which has its lower end made fast to the braces B B, where they cross, by the band h, Fig. 10, which is constructed to fit the braces and bar and hold the bar firm. The upper end of the bar D is inserted in the socket of the casting E, which is secured to the under side of the upper step, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11.

It is obvious that the upper end of the bar 1) may be inserted in a socket formed in the step, or its upper end may be pivoted thereto; but I prefer the socket E.

In closing up the ladder the slide H is raised on the bar D, thus permitting the rear legs to fold up against the ladder.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure; by. Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with the rear 1egs,-A A,

1 of a step-ladder and the cross-braces B'B,Zthei band-fastenings 12, substantially as shown and. r

described.

2. In combination with the rear legs, AA,

of a step-ladder and the cross-bar G, the staplefastenings (Z, substantially as specified.

"scribed.

5. In a step-ladder, the upright bar D, havin g its lower end made fast to the cross-braces B Band its upper end pivoted to the top step,

G, substantially as specified.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name scribingtwitnesses.

CALVIN .G. UDELL.

Witnesses:-

GEORGE H. BENNETT, E. O.- FR-XNK.

to this specification in the presence of two sub-- 0 

